Halle Berry Says Her Oscars Win Was Essentially Worthless

When Halle Berry won the Oscar for Best Actress in 2002 for her role in Monster's Ball, she immediately moved to dedicate the trophy to actors of color who'd been overlooked, and observed very famously:

"..it's for every nameless, faceless woman of color that now has a chance because this door tonight has been opened. Thank you. I'm so honored. I'm so honored. And I thank the Academy for choosing me to be the vessel for which His blessing might flow."

But these days, Berry says her win was essentially worthless.

In a new interview with Teen Vogue, Berry reflected on her 15-year-old victory, and said it basically meant nothing considering how few actresses of color have been nominated since.

Further, Berry is still the only woman of color to win the Best Actress category, and added that the #OscarsSoWhite controversy is, indeed, problematic.

“I sat there and I really thought, ‘Wow, that moment really meant nothing. It meant nothing. I thought it meant something, but I think it meant nothing,'” she said of her own win. “I was profoundly hurt by that, and saddened by that. It inspired me to try to get involved in other ways, which is why I want to start directing. I want to start producing more. I want to start making more opportunities for people of color. I have conversations more deeply with Academy members, and I’m trying to figure out how to help and add more diversity to the Academy.”

"I think black people… people of color…only have a chance to win based on how much we’re allowed to put out," she added. "That says to me that we need more people of color writing, directing, producing — not just starring. We have to start telling stories that include us.”